How to see volcanoes in Iceland, best volcano to visit

I'm sure that if you're reading this is because you are thinking of travelling to Iceland. Do it right, is one of the most striking, beautiful and memorable that you can choose. I would come back today and I would do many things, among them to immerse myself in nature. So I'm going to tell you about today how to visit volcanoes in Iceland, one of the best attractions of this island in the north.

Iceland is one of the sites that I am passionate about. I have for years and years intruding into their culture, learned a lot and know more and more. When more I learn, the more it appeals to me. That is something that you want to convey and I want to tell you because I want you to look at that small country as the treasure that it is.

Iceland has many volcanoes, active and inactive, in fact there are about 140 volcanoes in total. Basically, the country is in the middle or on top of two tectonic plates and has 35 systems volcanic assets that traverse the island. Then, let's see how to visit some of these volcanoes in Iceland and which of them are the best.

How to visit volcano Eyjafjallajökull: review and tours

Do you remember that year where all flights in Europe were cancelled due to a volcano that no one knew how to pronounce? That was the well loved and super famous Eyjafjallajökull.

This volcano is the most popular of the island and is located in the south of Iceland, just to the side of Katla volcano more dangerous of the island. In fact, it is one of the main reasons to travel to Iceland for many. Because after its eruption in 2011, Eyjafjallajökull became one of the most popular attractions.

After its eruption in 2011 caused a massive disruption in european flights.

During the first days of the eruption, thousands of people headed to the volcano to see it in action. But when I broke out the rash turned out to be very dangerous, as the volcano began to pour out an endless amount of lava and ash.

With this lava, were formed 2 new mountains called Magni and Móði. Today, hikers can still feel the ground warm in the top of the mountain. And if you decide to dig a little, you will notice that it is much more hot.

To reach Eyjafjallajökull is very simple. You should drive along highway 1 until you reach the town of Hvolsvöllur. Just before leaving the city, you will have to turn left onto highway 261 and follow up Fljótshlí, the road ends in a parking lot where you can cross with care the river if you have a 4×4 vehicle and the water levels are low. Otherwise, you'll have to settle with a good view from behind the river.

But to visit this volcano, you can also take a private tour. Although it is a bit expensive, it is worth it and you'll have 10,5 hours to get to know very well the volcano. But you will also discover other landscapes such as the beach of Reynisfjara, the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, among other things. But there is also another option, much more economical, it is also a guided tour and you can travel up to the volcano to see for yourself the effects of its eruption in 2011.

Visit active volcano Grimsvotn - review and tours

The volcanic system Grimsvotn (lakes Grímur) is the most volatile of the 35 active volcanoes existing in Iceland. The lakes of Grímur are lakes subglacial in Vatnajökull in southeast Iceland and can't be seen on the surface.

But this volcano is not so easy. Since this particular volcano is at the bottom of these lakes, so that when you enter in eruption melts the ice very quickly, causing explosions powerful and big clouds of ashes.

The eruption most fatal was in Skaftáreldar in the year 1784. This eruption caused the appearance of a row of craters known as the craters of Laki, which is part of this volcanic system.

Almost 11 thousand people were killed due to the eruption, but not because of the lava but because of indirect causes. As diseases of livestock because of poisonous gases and ash, or changes in the weather.

At the global level also had consequences, as it caused the fall in global temperatures and yielded sulphur dioxide in the northern hemisphere. This resulted in the loss of crops in Europe.

In spite of everything, the area around the craters of Laki is very beautiful. So it is worth visiting this place.

To visit volcano in Iceland, Grimsvotn, the most recommendable is to take a tour. Why? Because in addition to not being able to access with normal vehicles, but in Super Jeeps, it is also necessary to know very well the place because it is necessary to maneuver safely in the snow and the glacier. This is a nice tour that you can take. The best thing is that it lasts 6 days, 5 nights of accommodation and features all of the meals.

Volcano Thrihnukagigur - inside volcano tour from Reykjavik

Thrihnukagigur not only is the only volcano in which you can enter Iceland, but in the world. The craters of this volcano are very close to Reykjavík. In fact, they are close to the skiing area of the city in Bláfjöll and have been dormant for almost 4000 years, so don't expect to feel heat to visit the volcano.

You'll be able to enter a huge chamber of magma (about 155 thousand cubic metres). The camera is 4×4 meters, and you can descend to 121 meters in an elevator to the bottom of the cave. The fund has the size of a football field and you'll find a series of tunnels that go down 210 meters.

This magma chamber, is considered as one of the natural phenomena's largest and most important in the Land, in addition to having a color that is very beautiful.

Arriving by car is very simple. From Reykjavík you drive through the road Sudurlandsvegur. You have to drive straight for 17 minutes and then turn to the right in Blafjallavegur on the highway 417. Then you should keep driving until it becomes highway 407 until you reach the ski station.

But the experience might not be even moderately similar to that of making a tour inside the volcano. It may be a bit more expensive than the rest of the tours, but surely it will be worth it and you'll be able to take several photos to bring you very good memories.

In addition, this tour includes a traditional food of Iceland, so that it is impossible to refuse to the offer.

Most dangerous volcano Katla - volcano and glacier tour

Without a doubt you'll want to see this volcano in Iceland. Since Katla is known as one of the most dangerous volcanoes of the island. It is located in the glacier Mýrdalsjökul l in the south of the island and can cause major flooding, glaciers to erupt. Usually, these floods ruin houses and farms.

Katla is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland and has erupted 22 times between 931 and 1919 at intervals of 14 to 96 years. The last eruption was in 1919, but the volcanologists expect that there will be soon a new eruption, and likely to be catastrophic. In fact, almost always, Katla erupts after Eyjafjallajökull and cause much more damage.

To access Katla, the situation is a bit more complicated than with the other volcanoes. It is necessary to hike with a tour or fly in a helicopter. A good option is to take this tour so that you'll be able to go with people who know the place and things will be much simpler and more entertaining. In addition, it is very economic and you can cancel it whenever you want.

Getting to him is easy. You can drive south along the ring road number 1 and arriving at Skógafoss, after driving 2 and a half hours from Reykjavík. If you walk from Skógafoss to Thórsmörk, a route called Fimmvörðuháls, you can get a view of Katla.

Hekla is the best volcano to visit in Iceland

This is one of the best places to visit in Iceland, since that is one of the most famous volcanoes and assets of the island. In the middle ages, Hekla was known as the gateway to hell. If you're looking to see volcanoes in Iceland, this one is perfect for you. Because to get to by car is very simple as it is located in the southwestern part of the island, 2,5 hours drive from Reykjavík.

The eruptions of this volcano are very difficult to predict. Sometimes they can last a few days or even a couple of years. But in general, it is considered that the more idle time is Hekla, the larger and more catastrophic will be its eruption.

Hekla was dormant for more than 50 years before 1846, when it suddenly broke out with eruptions very explosive. This meant that the island was bathed in volcanic ash poisonous, causing the death of a large number of livestock.

In 1694 were the eruptions most destructive of Hekla. In fact, it caused lahars, and tsunamis, destroying farms and causing a significant amount of death in wildlife.

To reach Hekla, you have to drive on the ring road 1 and 92 kilometers to the east until you reach highway 26. Then you have to drive through this road towards the north for 50 miles until you get to the F225. From this point you have to drive 8 more miles and follow the signs towards Hekla. If you have a 4×4 vehicle you can drive till the base of the mountain, otherwise you'll need to park the car and walk a little.

But if you prefer to do a tour, is also possible. There are private tours very good that you can even do in the Jeep and in small groups of 3 people. Although it can be a little costly, so if your budget for a visit to Iceland is not so big, then you can take this tour which is much cheaper.